Letter 134: Chrysostom asks Diogenes for frequent letters as consolation in exile.

I would pay a great price to see your good order, my admirable master. You know this even before my letter, because you know the affection I have for your admirable self. Since this is not possible, with the long distance between us, no freedom to move where we wish, and daily fear from Isaurian attacks, I ask your nobility for what is the greatest consolation to us in this wilderness, hardship, and every other distress: send letters often, bringing good news of your health and that of your whole household. Even this is not easy to enjoy abundantly, since no one quickly comes here from there. Still, though what we ask is difficult, please make every effort possible and send frequent letters reporting your health. As for us, we enjoy quiet, much calm, clear peace, and moderate health. Only this troubles us: separation from those who love us. Your good sense is enough to soothe even that pain. Grant us this favor, so that from so great a distance we may still delight in your sweet, warm, and genuine love.

ΡΛ∆ʹ. ∆ιογένει. Πολλοῦ ἂν ἐπριάμην ἰδεῖν σου τὴν ἐμμέλειαν, δέσποτά μου θαυμασιώτατε, καὶ τοῦτο οἶσθα καὶ πρὸ τῶν γραμμάτων αὐτὸς, ἐπειδὴ καὶ τὸ φίλτρον οἶσθα σαφῶς, ὃ περὶ τὴν σὴν ἔχομεν θαυμασιότητα. Ἀλλ' ἐπειδὴ τοῦτο οὐκ ἔνι καὶ γὰρ τῆς ὁδοῦ πολὺ τὸ μέσον, καὶ οὐδὲ κύριοι κινεῖσθαι, ὅπουπερ ἂν ἐθέλωμεν, ἐσμὲν, καὶ τῶν Ἰσαυρικῶν ἐφόδων καθ' ἑκάστην ἡμέραν ὁ φόβος ἀκμάζει, παρακαλῶ σου τὴν εὐγένειαν, ὅπερ μέγιστον ἡμῖν εἰς παραμυθίαν ἐστὶ καὶ τῆς ἐρημίας τῆς ἐνταῦθα, καὶ τῆς ταλαιπωρίας, καὶ τῆς ἄλλης πάσης θλίψεως, τὸ συνεχῶς γράμματα δέχεσθαι, εὐαγγελιζόμενα τὴν ὑγείαν τὴν σὴν, καὶ τοῦ οἴκου σου παντὸς, τοῦτο χαρίζεσθαι ἡμῖν συνεχέστερον κατὰ τὸ ἐγχωροῦν. Οὐδὲ γὰρ τοῦτο ῥᾴδιον μετὰ πολλῆς ἡμᾶς ἔχειν τῆς δαψιλείας, διὰ τὸ μηδένα ταχέως ἐκεῖθεν ἐνταῦθα ἀφικνεῖσθαι. Ἀλλ' ὅμως, εἰ καὶ ἐργῶδες ὅπερ ᾐτήσαμεν, ἀλλ' ὡς ἂν οἷόν τε ᾖ σπουδὴν ποιήσασθαι παρακλήθητι, καὶ συνεχῶς πέμπειν ἐπιστολὰς ἀπαγγελλούσας ἡμῖν τὰ περὶ τῆς ῥώσεως τῆς σῆς. Ἵνα δὲ καὶ τὰ ἡμέτερα εἰδέναι ἕχῃς, ἀπραγμοσύνης ἀπολαύομεν, ἡσυχίας πολλῆς, λευκῆς τῆς γαλήνης, ὑγείας συμμέτρου, τούτῳ θορυβούμενοι μόνον, τῷ κεχωρίσθαι ὑμῶν τῶν ἀγαπώντων ἡμᾶς. Ἀλλ' ἱκανὴ ἡ σύνεσίς σου καὶ τοῦτον παραμυθήσασθαι τὸν πόνον, ὃν εἶπον. ∆ίδου δὴ ταύτην ἡμῖν τὴν χάριν, ὥστε καὶ ἐκ τοσούτου ἡμᾶς καθημένους διαστήματος δύνασθαι ἐντρυφᾷν καὶ ταύτης τῆς γλυκείας σου καὶ θερμῆς καὶ γνησίας ἀγάπης.